Team India registered a historic victory at Newlands, Cape Town, and levelled the series 1-1. It was their first-ever Test win at that ground, but despite the result, what made the headlines was the duration of the match.
The match lasted for only 107 overs and ended on Day 2 itself. Thus, the game became the shortest Test ever played in the history of the longest format in terms of total overs bowled (No drawn matches have been considered), surpassing the previous record of 109.2 overs.
That match was played between Australia and South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1932. In the new millennium, too, we have already witnessed many Test matches getting done and dusted within two days.
5 Test matches that have ended within two days in the New Millennium
South Africa vs India, Cape Town, 2024
It was a must-win encounter for Team India after a humiliating loss in the first game of the two-match series. The South African skipper, Dean Elgar won the toss and opted to bat. Mohammed Siraj’s six-fer, along with two wickets each for Jasprit Bumrah and Mukesh Kumar, destroyed the home side as they were bundled out for just 55 runs. In reply, India’s batters also failed to take a huge lead as they were prised out for 153 runs on the same day.
Then, in the second innings, South Africa lost three wickets at stumps as a total of 23 wickets fell. On day 2, Aiden Markram’s brilliant counter-attacking century helped Proteas salvage some pride. Rohit and his men chased down the target in just 12 overs with seven wickets to spare and won the game in the second session of day two. A total of just 107 overs were bowled.
India vs England, Ahmedabad, 2021
It was the third match of that four-match series between India against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, in 2021. The series was tied 1-1 after two matches. After winning the toss, England elected to take the first strike but Axar Patel ripped through their batting line-up with a six-fer, spinning a web around the batters.
On Day 1, the visitors got bundled out for just 112 runs. In reply, India also managed only 145 despite Rohit’s 66 runs as the combination of Joe Root and Jack Leach took nine wickets. In reply, England fell again in the spin trap of India and got all out for 81 runs. Again, Patel grabbed a fifer and India, in their second innings, chased down the small target of 49 runs with all 10 wickets intact. A total of 140.2 overs were bowled in that game.
Australia vs South Africa, Brisbane, 2022
It was the first Test of that series and Pat Cummins elected to bowl first after winning the toss. The visitors managed only 152 in their first innings. In reply, the Aussies finished day one, trailing by 7 runs.
On day two, they got all out for 218. Subsequently, the Proteas again got snuffed out for just 99 runs, thanks to Cummins’ fifer. Finally, the home team chased down the target of 34 runs for the loss of four wickets. A total of 144.2 overs were bowled in that game.
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IND vs SA | India win 2nd Test: Live Post Match Discussion https://t.co/yDrdGZRWZo
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) January 4, 2024
Pakistan vs Australia, Sharjah, 2002
After winning the toss, Pakistan batted first and got cleaned up for just 59 runs. Shane Warne lit up an empty stadium with his four wickets for just 11 runs in 11 overs. In reply, Matthew Hayden smashed 119 as Australia scored 310 runs in their first innings and took a sizeable lead of 251 runs.
In reply, Pakistan’s batters again were clueless against Warne and got bundled out for just 53 runs. Thus, Australia won that game by an innings and 198 runs within two days. A total of 148.5 overs were bowled in that game.
South Africa vs Zimbabwe, Gqeberha, 2017
AB de Villiers won the toss and elected to bat. South Africa ended up with a total of 309 runs for nine wickets and declared their first essay after 78.3 overs. In reply, Zimbabwe finished day one with four wickets down for 30 runs.
Then, on the following day, they added only 38 runs in their first innings before being cleaned up. They batted again and got bundled out for 121 runs and thus, the home team won that game by an innings and 120 runs within two days. A total of 151.1 overs were bowled in that game.
South Africa vs Zimbabwe, Cape Town, 2005
Zimbabwe skipper Tatenda Taibu won the toss and opted to bat. However, the decision did not go in their favour as they got nipped out for 54 runs. In reply, the Proteas’ batters batted aggressively and declared their first innings with 340 runs on the board for three wickets.
In reply, on day two, Zimbabwe put up a good fight but got snuffed out for 265 runs and lost that match by an innings and 21 runs. Jacques Kallis won the Player of the Match award for his all-round contribution. A total of 156.4 overs were bowled in that game.
Also Read: Bumrah haul tops Markram ton as India level South Africa series